Rinzaiji Temple, Shizuoka

Very well kept and beautiful tranquil place. The wood work is top tier. There is not a lot of walking around to do and is really just a quick visit and move on.

I will visit Rinzai-ji whenever I visit Shizuoka. It has a feeling of absolute peace, that only Zen Temples have. It has a beautiful garden, including some rock gardens. Just sit and enjoy the feeling for about half an hour. I first went because of its historical importance. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the man who united Japan and established the Tokugawa Shogunate was lodged in Shizuoka as a hostage for his family's good behaviour as a young boy and returned to Sumpu (Shizuoka) in his 'retirement' and built a huge castle in the center of town. It was at this temple that he was lodged as a young boy. He came of age at the more-frequently visited but less impressive, nearby Shrine.

Great place, very spiritual. Guide was incredible. Very detailed and full of facts. All in English. If given another chance I would definitely come back and visit the place. The only thing you must remember you will not be allowed every time. Research beforehand.

It is open to the public two days a year, in spring and fall. I only visited the exterior. [Explanatory signboard] Rinzaiji Temple Rinzai-ji Temple is the Ondai-ji Temple of Yoshimoto Imagawa's older brother Ujiteru, and was opened by Yoshimoto's military strategist Elder Taihara Setsusai and his teacher Taikyū Zenji. As the regent of Yoshimoto Imagawa, Yukinari was a man who wielded his wits both vertically and horizontally in the shobaku (a place for military deliberations). Yoshimoto's bravery in the Tokai region as the satrap of Sunenzo was largely due to the power of Yukinari, and this period was also the peak of the Imagawa family. Tokugawa Ieyasu spent 12 years as a hostage of the Imagawa family, starting at the age of 8 in 1549 during the Takechiyo period, learning both the literary and martial arts from Taiyuan Setsei. It can be said that the outer material that later became the foundation for the 300-year Tokugawa era when Ieyasu ruled the country was cultivated during this childhood. Yukisai passed away on October 10, 1555, at the age of 60. In May of the third year of Eiroku, five years after Yukinari's death, Yoshimoto was defeated and killed in the Battle of Okehazama, and the power of the Imagawa family rapidly declined and eventually fell. It can be said that the Imagawa family was founded by Yukimasa and declined after losing Yukimasa. At the top of the cemetery within the precincts are the graves of Lord Ujiteru and Sessai Choja.

It is famous as the temple where Tokugawa Ieyasu studied when he was a hostage. Since it is a Shugyo temple, it does not seem to be open to the public. However, you can enter the shrine grounds and pray. It is located right next to Shizuoka Sengen Shrine.